Dyche is hopeful on key pair

Chris Boden

Skipper Jason Shackell is in contention to return against Crystal Palace tomorrow - but Kieran Trippier is a doubt with a hamstring problem.

Shackell sat out Wednesday night’s FA Cup third round replay defeat at Spurs with a calf strain, which forced him out of the original tie last Monday.

Full back Keiran Trippier is being assessed ahead of Saturday's crunch clash with Crystal Palace at Turf Moor.

He wasn’t risked after a fitness test on Wednesday morning, and boss Sean Dyche said: “I think Shacks has a chance, he did well to get through the last one, it was tight, we don’t think there’s a re-injury, he ran this morning, had a fitness test and he’s certainly one we couldn’t risk after a pulled calf.

“He couldn’t make it, but by not making it, he’s got a better chance for Palace.”

However, Trippier will be assessed after coming off at White Hart Lane midway through the second half: “Kieran’s hamstring went tight in the game but we’re hopeful on that.”

Michael Duff and Sam Vokes both came through the full game after injury though, and Dyche was delighted: “Duffo got 90 minutes - he was always going to play, him and Sam Vokes, regardless, when we knew there was a replay.”

Burnley will now have a free date a week tomorrow, and Dyche will decide how best to use it: “We might go to Scarborough...joking apart, I don’t know what we’ll do, our plan was to come to Spurs and get a result.

“But when you see Sam Vokes get 95 minutes after what he’s been through, and now he has that window - he can now use that wisely to build his fitness.

“When people come through career-threatening injuries, that’s certainly a massive positive when they get back out on a football pitch, it’s great to see.”

Meanwhile, with Ross Wallace - on target at White Hart Lane with a free kick deflected in off Roberto Soldado - linked with a loan switch to Huddersfield Town, Dyche says there will be no departures from his first team squad: “Not at the moment, everyone knows how small a number we carry, some of the ones on the verge - our development players who have been with the first team squad - they may go if we think that’s appropriate, but we’ve kept Tom Anderson in, because with Duffo and Longy (Kevin Long), so we’ll see how that develops going forward.

“Luke O’Neill we’ve kept with us for obvious reasons over the Christmas period, but the main first team squad, no, they’ll not be going out anywhere.”